Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-12
NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE iRRI-
CATION SYSTEM.

The Wright-Abbott irrigation bill pro-
poses district organizations, provides for
their government, for raising revenue by
taxation within them, and gives the power
to invoke the right of eminent domain to
enable them to take private property for
district use, such private property in
Guiding water and riparian rights. An
amendment to except vested rights relative
to mining water rights, and to prevent any
injury to navigation has been made. The
abstract merits of the bill we do not now
consider, but as a general proposition it is
far from afIording solution Of the irriga-
ton problem. There should be some sys-
TEN for organization Of irrigation districts
Such provision must form part of any
complete irrigation code. But the district
organizations must be secondary to a gen.
eral and symmetrical scheme, which must
comprehensively treat the subject of water
rights, and the conservation of water
courses. What the State needs is gen
eral law providing for due administration
and care Of all the streams considered to-
gether, and treated according to their rela-
ton to each other and to the several sec
tions they traverse. Such a system alone
can furnish the necessary and substantial
groundwork for the erection of irrigation
districts. During all the sessions of the
Legislatures of the State, we have carefully
watched the progress of irrigation eff
forts. They have resulted in good, for
every new effort has added to the
sum of public knowledge concern
ing the question and the physical
facts. That the subject, as a whole, is not
yet fully understood even by the repre-
sentatives from admitted irrigation sections
is undeniable, and is the cause of much
of the impraeticable experimenting pro-
iected. Such Representatives very clearly
comprehend their local needs, and under
stand the difficulties arising in their sew
eral localities. Beyond this very few nave
progressed OF course there cannot be
evolved by such representatives any gen.
eral plan, until the whole subject relating
to a general system of irrigation and
drainage Tor the whole irrigation and
drainage area of the State is laid bare to
them. When we arrive at that point We
may expect full treatment of the subject.
We cannot expect to attain that end ex-
cept by deliberate and painstaking labors
not possible to legislative committee
within the narrow limits of its existence
with its attention divided by the claims of
many other subjects. Having the irriga-
ton and drainage data now gathered. we
can approach the end logically only by its
deliberate and exhaustive examination,
arrangement and comprehensive applica-
ton Any haste, without such treat
ment, means only waste, Encouragement
of agricultural interests and delay in es-
tablishing the general and permanent
system that is so greatly needed, and
which every well-wisher of the State must
desire to see speedily agreed upon. In
the Sacramento valley the subject is of
less interest in its irrigation aspect than in
its intimate relation to reclamation, debris
and river navigation questions. These are
inseparably connected with any general
system, and it can, therefore, only be best
treated by the Legislature, after COM
mission, chosen solely because of Its
fitness for the task, has examined
the testimony, that has been accumulated
at great cost and after extended research
and has formulated plans upon which leg
islation can wisely build. Such COM
mission should be composed of practical
business men, aided by legal, agricultural
and scientific coadjutators. We have
heard of no reason advanced that
leads us to modify the original judg
ment we made that such body should be
erected. 1t is the only way to lift the irri
CATION question out of the slough of con
| tention it is the speediest method for thu
settlement of the general subject of con
servation of streams all over the State
| For the whole State is vitality interestet